[Senate  Bill,  N().  20.] 

SP^NATE. — May  13,  1S64 — Read  first  und  second  tiiuos,  and  ve- 
ierred  to  Qommittee  on  Commerce.  May  17,  1S64 — Reported  with 
ilri  amendment,  and  bill  and  amendment  ordered  to  be  printed. 


\T  ■      <^r 


1 


•     A    BILL 

To  cHahlish  a  Bureau  of  Foreign?.  Suppli- 

Section  I .  The  Congress  of'  the  Conjcdcrate  iStates  of  Amerini 
■J  do  enact,  Tiiat  for  thepurpose  of  exporting  cofton  and  other  })r.  - 
.  duce  to  supply,  by  imports,  the  military  and  other  necessities  o( 
r  the  Government  dtiring  the  continuance  of  the  war  with  thv 
">  United  States,  an  iinlmendent  bureau  of  the  War  Department  be 
'.'  established,  to  bo  eiiiuled  the  bureau  of  foreign  supplies. 

Sec.  2.  That  the  said  bureau  shall  be  charged  with  <tlie  pur- 
.  chase  of  cotton  and  other  produce  for  export,  and  with  the  sale 
•  ;  of  the  same,  and  with  all  the  duties' and  expenditures  connected 
I  with  the  purchase  and  import  of  munitions  of  war  'and  .^nrli 
•")  other  supplies  as-  may  be  required  by  '^'"*  - -vral  deparl^neu-.-  ■»! 
'    the  Government. 

Sec.  3.   That  all  steamers  now  owned  by  any  of  the  depart- 

ments  of  Ihe-  Government,   and  used  to  supply  their  necessities 

."  from  abroad,  and  all  contracts  for  the  increase  of  the  number  of 

-    •^uch  steamers  ai"!  v^'-fd.   (>(•     r.\\i]   m"''  1i»'vmI>\-  -i;Mi-f.-r>>'d   to  tli'- 

said  bureau. 


2 

Sec.  4.  That  the  chief  of  this  bureau  shall,  under  the  Secre- 
•^  tary  of  War,  have  full  power  to  purchase  and  contract  for  such 
.i  vessels  and  steamers,  to  be  owned  wholly  or  in  part  by  the  Go- 
4  vernnient,  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  discharge  of  4;he  duties 
•"  imposed  upon  the  bureau,  and  to  obtain  the  general  objects  of  its 
('  establishment  as  set  forth  in  the  first  section  of  this  .act. 

Skc.  '5.   That  all  permits  or  licenses  for  the  exportation  of 

*J  cotton  or  other  domestic  produce  on  private  account  that  may  b<' 

:',  authorized  by  the  act  of  Congress  entitled   "  An  act  to  impose 

:   ivgulations  upon  the  foreign  commerce  of  the  Confederate  States 

•  ■')  and  to  provide  for  the  public  defence"  shall  be  issued  from  this 

H  bureau  under  such  regulations  as  may  be  prescribed  in  the  said 

7  act,  or  under  any  authority  granted  therein  to  the  President,  the 

ji  Secretary  of  War  or  other  department,  and  under  such  conditions 

M  as  may  be  effectual  to  secure  the  fulfilment  of  the  objects  of  the 

U»  present  a^t:  Provided,  That  nothing  in  the  present  act  shall  b»- 

1 1   construed  to  affect  tlie  export  of  any  cotton  or  other  produce 

'•J  under  the  control  of  the  Treasury  or  other  Department,  to  secure 

]:'>  any  of  the  bonds  or  obligations  of  the  Confederate  States. 

Sec.  G.  That  the  said  bureau  shall  devote  to  the  wants  of  the 
•J  several  departments  of  the  Government  sncli  proportion  ol  liic 
;j  exporting  and  importing  facilities  at  ^ts  command,  as  may,  from 
4  time  to  time,  be  fixed  by  the  President. 

Sec.  7.   That  the  said  bureau  shall  consist  of  one  Colonel,  on. 
L'  Lieutenant  Colonel,  two  Majors,  and  two  Captains,  with  the  pay 


8  and  allowances  of  officers  of  artillery  of  the  same  gradt.-s,  wn 
4.  may  he  appointed  from  civil  life,  and  of  such  agents  as  may  b*- 

5  necessary,  whose  compensation  shall  bo  fixed  by  the  Secretary  o! 
(i  Waj-. 

Sec!  S.  That  the  chief  of  said  bureau  may  appoint  suitable 
2  purchasing  agents  of  known  integrity  and  business  capacity,  whr^ 

8  shall  be  charged  with  the  purchase  of  cotton  and  other  produce, 
4  and  the  transportation  of  the  same  to  points  for  shipment  under 
o  regulations  to  be  prescribed  by  the  chief  of  said  bureau,  under 

6  the  approval  of  the  President  and  Secretary  of  War.     Each  of 

7  said  agents  shall,  before  entering  upon  his  duties,  give  b(»nd,  with 
^  good  and  sufficient  security,  to  be  approved  by  the  chief  of  said 

9  bureau,  conditioned  for  the  faithful  performance  of  his  duty,  and 

10  shall  also  take  and  subscribe  an  oath  before  some  officer  authorize*] 

1 1  by  law  to  administer  the  same,  that  he  will  not  directly  or  indi- 

12  rectly  be  engaged  in  the  purchase  or  sale,  on  private  account,  for 

13  himself,  or  any  other  person,  of  any  cotton  or  other  produce  ap- 

14  pertaining  to  his  said  agency,  while  so  employed  as  agent  of  the 
1-5  Government. 

m 

Se6.  9.  That  any  officer  or  agent,  connected  with  said  bureau, 
2  who  shall  be  guilty  of  buying  or  selling,  directly  or  indirectly. 
'i  on  private  account,  for  himself  or  any  other  person,  any  cotton 
4  or  other  produce,  of  which  said  bureau  is  charged  with  the  pur- 
0  chase,  shall,  upon  conviction  before  any  court  of  the  Confederate 
(i  States,  having  jurisdiction,  be  fined  by  the  court  in  a  sum  not 


4 
7  exceeding  dollars,  anPl  be  imprisoned  for  a  terui  iM^i  !,•-- 

•^  than  n»r  more  than  year;;. 

Skc  10.    That  there  sliall   be  established  an  agency  ot  said 

2  bureau,  and  auxiliajy  thereto,  fur  the  States  west  of  the  Missis- 

3  sippi  river.,  the  officers  of  which  ehall  consist  of  one  lieutenani 

4  colonel,  two  niajor.s,  and  two  captains,  with  the  pay  and  allow- 
o  ances  of  officers"  of  artillery  of  the  same  grades,  and  who  may 
0  be   appointed    from    civil    life,  and  of  such  agents  as   may  be 

7  necessary,  whose  compensation  shall  be  fixed  by  the  Secretary 

8  of  War.  Said  agency  shall  establish  its  office  at  such  place  in 
!>  the  States  v.est  of  the  Mississippi  as  may  be  selected  by  the 

10  chief  officer  thereof;  and  shall  be  charged  with  the  purchase  and 

11  exportation  of  cotton  and  other  produce,  and  the  importation  ot 
VJ  munitions  of  war  and  other  supplies  for  the  army  of  the  trans- 
it Mississippi  department,  and' such  other  supplies  a^may  be  needed 
14  by  the  Government,  or  any  of  its  departments  in  said  military 
]-5  department. 

Sec.  11.  Such  agency  and  the  chief  oMicer  thereof,  shall  pos- 
2  sess  like  power  and  duties  for  the  States  west  of  the  Mississippi 
a  river,  as  are  conferred  by  this  act  upon  saM  bureau  and  the  chiei 
■i  officer  thereof,  but  subordinate  and  subject  to  said  bureau. 

Sec.  12.    That  the  purchasing  agents  west  of  the  Mississippi 

2  river  shall  take  the  oath  and  give  bond  as  provided  in  the  eighth 

3  section  of  this  act ;  and  the  officers  and  agents  shall  be  subject 

4  to  the  penalties  prescribed  by  the  ninth  section,  if  found  guilty 

5  of  the  offence  therein  specified. 


5  ^^'^ 

Sec.  13.   Tiiat  the  said  agency  shall  have  power  to  establish 

« 

•2  such  interior  depots  for  the  receipt  of  cotton  and  other  produce. 

3  intended  for   exportation    into  or  through   Mexico,   as  may  be 

4  deemed  necessary  and  proper,  and  may  also  prescribe  rules  and 
-3  regulations  for  granting  permits  to  individuals  to  transport  cotton 

>  or  other  produce  to  said  depots,  as  well  as  sea-ports,  and  may 

7  impose  such  terms  and  conditions,  beneficial  to  the  Government. 

5  as  a  consideration  tor  such  permits,  as  may  be  deemed  just  and 
9  proper. 

Sec.  14.   That  the  business  of  the  Cotton  Bureau  established 
•J  under  a  special  order  of  Lieutenant  General  E..  Kirby  Smith, 

3  commanding  the  trans-Mississippi  department,  be,  and  the  sann^ 

4  is  hereby  transferred  to  the  said  agency  of  said  bureau  west  ot 
•>  the  Mississippi  river,  and  the  operations  and  transactions  of  sai'l 
0  bureau,  esfablished  as  aforesaid,  not  inconsistent  with  the  pro- 
7  visions  of  this  act,  are  hereby  ratified  and  confirmed. 


AMENDMENT      ♦ 

Proposed  bij  (he  Commitlce  on  Commerce  to  the  Bill  {S.  20),  (o  establisJ' 
a  Bureau  of  Foreign  Sujjplies. 

Strike  out  all  after  the  enacting  clause  and  insert : 

"  That  for  tlie  purpose  of  exporting  cotton  and  other  produce 

•J  to  supply,  by  imports,  the  military  and  other  necessities  of  the 

•{  government  during  tiie  continuance  of  the  war  %ith  the  United 

.  1  States,  an  independent  Bureau  of  the  War  Department  be  estab- 

•>  lished,  to  be  entitled  the  Bureau  of  Foreign  Supplies. 


6  I 

Sec.  2.  That  the  said  bureau  shall  be  charged  with  the  })ur- 
•j  chase  of  cotton  and  other  produce  for  export,  and  with  the  sale 
:i  oi'  the  same,  and  with  all  the  duties  and  expenditures  connected 
4  with  the  purchase  and  import  of  munitions  of  war  and  such  other 
-)  supplies  as  may  be  required  by  the  several  departments  of  thi' 
(i  government.  f 

Sec.  3.  That  all  steamers  now  owned  by  any  of  the  depart- 
•J  ments  of  tlie  government,  and  used  to  supply  their  necessities 
■i  from  abroad,  may  be  continued  in  that  use,  but  shall  be  turned 
4  over  to  the  Navy  Department,  to  be  officered,  manned,  equipped 
-')  and  sailed;  under  direction  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Sec.  4.    That  the  chief  of  this  bureau  shall,  under  the  Secre- 

2  tary  of  War,  have  full  power  to  purchase  and  contract  for  such 
4  vessels  and  steamers,  to  be  owned  wholly  or  in  part  by  the  govern- 

4  ment,  a,s  may  be  necessary  for  the  discharge  of  the  duties  imposed 
->  upon  the  bureau,  and  to  obtain  the  general  objects  of  its  estab- 
«)  lishment,  as  set  forth  in  the  first  section  of  this  act :  Provided, 
7  That  in  the  puraiase  of  such  vessels  the  chief  of  said  bureau 

5  shall  be  guided  by  an  officer  of  the  navy,  and  that  all  vessels  in 
*.i  which  the  government  has  a  controlling  interest,  may  be  delivered 

1 1)  to  tiie .  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  to  be  officered,  manned,  equipped 
1  I   and  sailed  under  his  direction. 

Sec.  G.  That  all  permits  or  licenses  for  the  exportation  of  cot- 
•2  ton  or  other  domestic  produce  on  private  account  that  may  be  au- 

3  thoriz(^  by  the  act  of  Congress  entitled  "  an  act  tp  impose  regula-       ^ 


7     • 

4  tions  upon  the  foreign  commerce  of  the  Confederate  States,  and 
•5  to  provide  for  the  public  defence,"  shall  be  issued  from  this 
(i  bureau,  under  such  regulations  asmay  be  prescribed  in  the  said 
7  act,  or  under  any  authority  granted  therein  to  the  President,  the 

5  Secretary  of  Wai'  or  other  department,  and  under  such'conditions 
'■)  as  may  be  effectual  to  secure  the  fulfilment  of  the  objects  of  the. 

JO  present  act :  Provided,  That  nothing  in  the  present  act  shall  be 

11  construed  to  affect  the  export  of  any  cottdn  or  other  product' 

12  under  the  control  of  the  treasury  or  other  department,  to  secure 
1  -i  any  of  the  bonds  or  obligations  of  the  Confederate  States. 

Sec.  6.  That  the  said  bureau  shall  cause  to  be  paid  into  the- 
2  Treasury  all  moneys  that  may  accrue  I'rom  the  sales  of  cotton  and 
o  other  produce  that  may  be  disposed  of  under  its  authority,  and 
4  that  the  proceeds  shall  be  apportioned  among  the  several  Depart- 
•5  ments,  under  instructions  of  the  President,  and  be  drawn'  for  as 
*">  in  other  cases.of  appropriations. 

Sec.  7.  That  the  said  bureau  shall  consist  of  one  Colonel  and 
2  one  Lieutenant  Colonel,  with  the  pay  and  ailovvances  of  officers 

0  of  artillery,  who  inay  be  appointed  from  civil  life,  and  shall   be 

1  men  of  commercial  experience  and  capacity,  and  such  inferior 
o  officers  as  may  be  assigned  to  that  duty,  with  such  agents  and 
()  clerks  as  maybe  deemed  necessary  by  the  President,  whose  coni- 
7  pensation  shall  be  fixed  l)y  the  Secretary  of  War. 

^      Sec.  S.   That  the  chief  of  said  bufcau  may  appoint  suitable 

2  purchasing  agents  of  known  integrity  and  busines^capacity,  who- 


8 

fj  shall  be  charged  with  the  purchase  of  cotton  and  other  produce, 

4  and  the  transportation  of  the  same  to  points  for  shipment,  undfr 

5  regulations  to  be  prescribed  by  the  chief  of  said  bureau,  under 
f)  the  approval  of  the  President  and  Secretary  of  War.  Each  of 
7   said  agents  shall,  before  entering  upon  bis  duties,  give  bond,  wiph 

•  S  good  a'lid  sufficient  security,  to  be  approved  by  the  chief  of  said 

9  bureau,  conditioned  for  the  faithful  performance  of  his  duty  ;  and 

J  0  shall  also  take  and  subscribe  an  oath  before  some  officer  authorized 

1 1   by  law  to  .administer  the  same,  that  he  will   not  directly  or  indi- 

I'J  rectly  be  engaged  in  the  purchase  or  sale,  on  private  account,  tor 

13  himself,  or  any  other  person,  of  any  «ot1^n  or   other  produce 

14  appertaining  to  his  said  agency,  while  so  employed  as  agent  of  the 

15  government. 

Sec.  9.   That  any  officer  or  agent,  connected  with  said  bureau, 

2  who  shall  be  guilty  of  buying  or  selling,  directly  or  indirectly,  on 

3  private  account,  fur  himself  or  any  other  person,  any  cotton  or 

4  other  produce,  of  which  said  bureau  is  charged  with  the  pur- 

5  chase,  shall,  upon  conviction  before  any  court  of  the  Confederate 

6  States  having  jurisdiction,  be  fined  by  the  court  in  a  sum  not  ex- 

7  ceeding  dollars,  and  be  imprisoned  for  a  term  n^t  less 
S  than             rior  more  than    "  years. 

Sec.  10.    That  there  shall  be  established  an  agency  of  said 
•J  bureau,  and  auxiliary  thereto,  for  the  States  west  of  the  Missis- 

3  sippi  river,  the  officers  *of  which  shall  consist  of  one  lieutenant 

4  colonel  of  artillery,  who  may  be  appointed  from  civil  life,  and     ^ 


9 

•5  shall  be  a  man  of  commercial  experience  and  capacity,  and  such 

6  inferior  officers  as  may  be  assigned  to  that  duty,  with  such  agents 

7  as  may  be  deemed  necessary  by  the  President,  whose  compensa- 
S  tion  shall  be  fixed  by  the  Secn^tary  of  War.  Said  agency  shall 
9  establish  its  office  at  such  placo  in  the  States  west  of  the  Missis- 

10  sippi  as  may  be  selected  by  the  chief  officer  thereof;  and  shall  be 

11  charged  with  the  purchase  and  exportation  of  cotton  and  other 
12' produce,  and  the  importation  of  munitions  of  war  and  other  sup- 

13  plies  for  the  army  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  department,  and  such 

14  other  supplies  as  may  be  needed  by  the  governmeni,  or  any  of  its 

15  departments  in  said  military  department. 

Sec.  11.   Such  agency  and  the  chief  officer  thereof,  shall  pos- 

2  sess  like  power  and  duties  for  the  States  west  of  the  Mississippi 

3  river,  as  are  conferred  by  this  act  upon  said  bureau  and  the  chief 

4  officer  thereof,  but  subordinate  and  subject  to  said  bureau. 

Sec.  12.   That  the  purchasing  agents  west  of  the  Mississippi 

2  river  shall  take  the  oath  and  give  bond  as  provided  in  the  eighth 

3  section  of  this  act;  and  the  officers  and  agents  shall  be  subject  to 

4  the  penalties  prescribed  by  the  ninth  section,  if  found  guilty  of 

5  the  offence  therein  specified. 

Sec.  ]3.   That  the  said  agency  shall  have  power  to  establish 

2  such  interior  depots  for  the  receipt  of  cotton  and  other  produce, 

3  intended    for  exportation    into  or  through    Mexico,  as  may  be 

4  deemed  necessary  and  proper,  and  may  also  prescribe  rules  and 

5  regulations  for  granting  permits  to  individuals  to  transport  cotton 

2 


10 

6  or  other  produce  to  said  depot:.,  as  well  aa  seaports ;  and   may 

7  impose  such  terms  and  conditions,  beneJicial  to  the  government, 

6  as  a  consideration  for  such  permits,  as  may  be  deemed  just  and 
9  proper. 

Sec.  1-1.    That  the  business  of  the  Cotton  Bureau  established  . 

2  under  a  special  order  of  Lieutenant  General  E.  Kirby  Smith,  com- 

3  manding  the  Trans-'Mississippi  department,  be,  and  the  same  is 

4  hereby,  transferred  to  the  said  agency  of  said  bureau  west  of  the 
d  Mississippi  river,  and  the  operations  and  transactions  of  said  bu- 
tt reau,  established  as  aforesaid,  not  inconsistent  with  the  provisions 

7  of  this  act,  are  hereby  ratified  and  confirmed." 


